PRINTER'S NO. 582
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
72
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, APRIL 13, 2021
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 13, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2021 as "Pennsylvania 8-1-1 Safe
Digging Month."
WHEREAS, As engineers, designers, excavators and homeowners
work to keep pace with this Commonwealth's unprecedented
economic development, it is important to minimize damage to
underground utility lines, danger to workers, environmental
pollution and loss of utility service to residents of this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania One Call System, a utility
notification center celebrating more than 49 years of continuous
service to this Commonwealth, is key to preventing injuries and
damage when excavating and demolishing; and
WHEREAS, This unique service provides easy, one-call
notification about construction and excavation projects that may
endanger workers and jeopardize utility lines and promotes
workplace and public safety, reduces underground utility damage,
minimizes utility service interruptions and protects the
environment; and
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WHEREAS, This vital service, which began with only six
utility companies in western Pennsylvania and the City of
Pittsburgh, now serves more than 100,000 excavators and 3,680
critical infrastructure owners throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, despite a worldwide pandemic, the
Pennsylvania One Call System received nearly 1 million
notification requests and transmitted more than 6.4 million
notifications to its members, providing protection to utility
companies, their employees and customers; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Underground Utility Line Protection
Law, also known as the PA One Call Act, has been used as a model
for many other states and at least seven foreign countries; and
WHEREAS, Dozens of counties and hundreds of municipalities
are following in the footsteps of the Pennsylvania General
Assembly and adopting their own proclamations memorializing
"Safe Digging Month"; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of April 2021
as "Pennsylvania 8-1-l Safe Digging Month" to encourage all
excavators and homeowners of this Commonwealth to dial 8-l-1 /
l-800-242-1776 or click www.pa811.org before planning a digging
project in order to "Know What's Below," avoid injury, protect
the environment and prevent millions of dollars in damages; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate remind excavators that three
business days' notice before digging is the law because safe
digging is no accident and that more information may be obtained
by visiting www.pa8ll.org; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the Governor, the Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, the
Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of General Services,
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the Secretary of Environmental Protection, the Secretary of
Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania One Call
System, Inc.
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